musings of an adoptive mama of one little tot from China and another on the way.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Advocating on Behalf of Guatemalan Orphans and Adoptive Families

Though we are not adopting from Guatemala, I feel compelled to advocate for those who are and for the Guatemalan orphans. I received an email from Adoptive Families that reads the following:

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1 2008. The Joint Council on International Children's Services strongly opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in their efforts to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency through Intercountry Adoption.

President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely.

This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.